But not in the British sense of the word (oh yeah, bit of a linguist here). At left, we've got Alexandre Graham, one of the organizers of last Saturday's "Circle Line Party," a soiree held to commemorate the final hours of legal drinking on the Tube before London Mayor Boris Johnson's alcohol ban on public transportation went into effect. Sadly, we were not in attendance, but judging by the photos of people swinging from poles, passed out under benches, knocking each other unconscious, and puking on one another, it seems like Graham did an exceptional job, and may have a future in the party planning businesses. That talent will serve him well, in the event that his employers at the Royal Bank of Scotland fire him, which the Daily Mail reports the higher ups are considering. Absolute BS, we know.
As it happens, we received an email from someone interested in retaining Graham's services this morning, wondering if we knew of any interest in "some sort of [similar] day drinking event for every single unemployed financial services employee in New York." The ad people in this asylum want you to say no, of course I'm not interested because I'm gainfully employeed and pulling down 9 figures. Don't let them silence you. It would be a great way to kick off your Summer o' Severance. Plus, the whole NYC vs. London thing, which is always fun to debate. Which one can get the most bankers arrested in a single evening? Now that both cities blow equally re: not being allowed to drink on the subway, it'll be an even match. At least think about it. If not, we can always float the rumor that Metro North is considering a similar ban on booze. It's not going to happen but who among us wouldn't love to see (/take part in) Westchester and CT's middle-aged commuters losing their shit and erupting into a drunken violent party protest over not being able to drink gigantic Coors out of paper bags on the way home to the wife and kids? The answer is no one.
Need some inspiration? Here's a clip of Saturday's festivities, set to Abba, so you know it's good (bad).
Facebook Tube party that ended in drunken riot was organised by City banker [Daily Mail]
Posted by big r , Jun 03, 2008 12:42PM
abba made that at least 4.5x better
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 12:43PM
This makes me SO proud to be British......
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 12:54PM
Looked like all the people one might see in a LoverboysUSA video.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 12:57PM
oh this is great, liverpool station full of pissed brits
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 1:02PM
Bess is a cunning linguist!
Posted by girl , Jun 03, 2008 1:02PM
This makes me SUCH a self-hating american...
seriously that kid is a rockstar. He and the angel wings/blue eye shadow kid should join forces and start a transatlantic party boat or something
Posted by american bandersnatch , Jun 03, 2008 1:05PM
Reminds me why I left that country ...
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 1:10PM
Before they sack Alex maybe RBS should aim a little higher with the axe.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Banks-targeted-after-pricefixing-allegation.4143704.jp
Also, in the US, we say, "RBS is dumb." But our cousins across the Pond say, "RBS are dumb."
Why do the Brits take a singular institution and put a pluralized verb after it?
~The Irritated Ghost of Mark Twain
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 1:31PM
@american bandersnatch: couldn't agree more dude. A good chunk of the English really failed to impress.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 1:54PM
unh, unh. so what you know bout them Texas boys?
Come around here carryin they toys, smoking weed, and talkin noise.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 2:20PM
THEY SMOKIN THEM TWEEDS AGAIN
Posted by John Carney , Jun 03, 2008 2:27PM
They refuse the reify the institution. The grammar reminds us RBS is made up of the people at RBS.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 2:37PM
Completely off topic - who knows what is going on at LEH ?
Is is another BSC by the weekend?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 2:39PM
2:37 - rumors that people are getting nervous about counterparty exposure. If I were LEH I would be announcing an oversubscribed capital raise at 4:01 pm today.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 2:44PM
but if they raise capital isn't that admitting they need it?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 2:45PM
rumor barc for leh $20
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 2:50PM
Over/Under LEH Volume today: 100 million shares.
Posted by blndebnker , Jun 03, 2008 2:52PM
Hypothetically speaking, if LEH were to hit a Bear type skid, is there anyone out there that could prop them up?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:04PM
blndebnker- Good question. Certainly Jamie Dimon has his hands full already. I doubt any of the Charlotte wannabes would be interested. Perhaps a Britbank like HSBC that has flushed billions trying to build an investment banking franchise over the past decade or so? Or maybe some sort financial buyer like a Christopher Flowers or one of the big hedge funds like Citadel.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:06PM
citadel
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:07PM
Um. back on topic, this makes me depressed to be British. There is no way that deliberately spending a Saturday night on stinking, pikey tube can be anything other than painfully loserish. Also, the guy is drinking a £24.99 bottle of champagne. And he went to Loughborough University for fuck's sake. He's a poor man's version of Lucy Gao.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:08PM
a hedge fund with 20x leverage would not make any customers running from lehman stop pulling their money. what are you smoking?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:12PM
3:08 - Maybe if they had the same FED backstop that JPM got in the Bear debacle?
Posted by Anal_yst , Jun 03, 2008 3:13PM
Can we please understand that for the most part, very very few people have anything to gain from lehman pulling a 'bear'.
The self-fulfilling rumor machine needs to slow they roll.
Posted by blndebnker , Jun 03, 2008 3:14PM
I don't think the FED is going to give backstop to anyone but a bank.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:14PM
Back on the topic of LEH, Who here would do Erin Callan?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:15PM
The Fed has the money to do it again but the political price would be astronomical.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:16PM
I would totally do Erin
Posted by blndebnker , Jun 03, 2008 3:18PM
Do you dudes ever get laid? Seriously. Because all you guys do is talk about it. Is it a problem with being undersexed or over?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:24PM
Blind banker, talk to guys much?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:26PM
So glad it is not possible to drink anymore on the Tube. Maybe it will reduce the amount of binge drinking though I wouldn't expect it!
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:26PM
say you wouldn't....
http://www.portfolio.com/images/site/editorial/magazine/2008/04/sex-erin-callan-large.jpg
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:27PM
screw burnett, blondie is #1!
Posted by american bandersnatch , Jun 03, 2008 3:28PM
Is there such a thing as being oversexed?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:31PM
Anal_yst - is this zero sum? Does a loser mean that there is a winner in this scenerio.
If its your money and you believe that they "maybe"circling the drain do you care about anything other than getting your money out. I don't know if you would care about the "overall" win/lose proposition?
Nobody want to be the "investor" on the BSC conference call who had bot 1000 shares on the friday afternoon at $43.
Posted by blndebnker , Jun 03, 2008 3:31PM
@3:24pm - All day long. And they don't really censor themselves.
Thank you 3:27.
@3:28pm - I would tend to lean towards no but you never know.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:38PM
Blonde- you're welcome
I am going to go in the yes column for 3:28, though it does constitute an entire weekend in close quarters and an abundance of survival supplies
-3:27
Posted by Anal_yst , Jun 03, 2008 3:40PM
@ 3:31
You bring up an interesting point, and, as with most things we can bring this back to game theory (think prisoner's dilemma).
Unfortunately, counterparties all pretty much have to, as you point out, CYA, lest they have to explain to investors they went under cus they didn't pay attention to market news.
At a certain point, whether stepped in truth or not, this very-well may become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Similar, although possibly worse than what went down @ BSC.
May god have mercy on our souls.
Posted by blndebnker , Jun 03, 2008 3:54PM
-3:27pm Survival supplies? I'm both frightened and intrigued.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:58PM
Gatorade, "anti-chaffing" creme and nipple clamps?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 3:58PM
Gatorade, "anti-chaffing" creme and nipple clamps?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 4:00PM
Ohh Blondie, its quite simple- Like any weekend excursion really... Beer, champagne, sandwiches, whipped cream, gatorade and other thirst-quenchers... maybe a cliff bar too (then depending on personal taste you get past the vital necessities and into recreational ones- suggestions involve knit ties, sumbreros, ice cubes, a nine iron, etc.)
I'm just saying.
-3:27
Posted by big r , Jun 03, 2008 4:05PM
i really love when KLW shows up
Posted by american bandersnatch , Jun 03, 2008 4:11PM
KLW - Say hello to my little friend!
Posted by HAM05 , Jun 03, 2008 4:13PM
taking a look around my little cubefarm i see a sea of dudes with a sprinkling of fat assistants.
only thing chubb-worthy is hearing about leftover sandwiches in a conference room
so yeah, erin can get it
Posted by blndebnker , Jun 03, 2008 4:20PM
Thank you 3:27 & KLW for the education. Very informative.
And sorry you work with a bunch of uglies, Ham. :(
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 4:23PM
I think blndebnker is a prude and about as exciting in bed as a blow up doll. That's just the impression I get. Just saying.
Posted by Anal_yst , Jun 03, 2008 4:24PM
Ham
I feel your pain, I overlook one of the most shockingly unsexy crowd I've ever worked with...worse than the Telecom back in NJ I interned at back in the day, which is really saying something
Posted by blndebnker , Jun 03, 2008 4:26PM
@4:23pm - Interesting impression. Why is that?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 4:32PM
@blndebnker Don't get me wrong, neither this nor my post above is meant is meant to be a slam; I love your contributions. You seem averse to sex (your post above would be Exhibit A). Its also been my experience that most women have never had truly mind blowing, 5 or 6 orgasms in a row type sex so it isn't surprising you would be somewhat uninterested.
Posted by FUNdamental , Jun 03, 2008 4:34PM
@ ham @ anal_syt -- the odds of a crew as unsightly as mine in dilbert's nightmare over here are lower than a gov. Having to pay for sex...
//oohhhh, no shit?
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 4:35PM
I'll beg to differ 4:23. Based on another post a while ago regarding carpets and curtains; Blonde is well ahead on the curve of the average banker chick.
-3:27
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 4:39PM
it has been my experience although I am no means an expert that properly manicuring the nether regions is completely standard practice among banker chicks, i think it is because they know everything better be in good shape on those rare occasions they are going to have a chance to get some, or it makes them feel good about themselves still since they have often let several other parts of their bodies go.
no offense of course. i think it's a totally fair trade!
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 4:41PM
I mean I have let myself go too, most of us have. it keeps the playing field even.
Posted by girl , Jun 03, 2008 4:42PM
@ BB
I'm afraid the only way to settle the matter is to have sex with @4:32 and see if he's even capable of doling out a single.
I'll be here waiting for the Community Board write up.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 4:44PM
@4:39- you make a good point.
Still, I'm going to go ahead, ignore your opinion, and assume that Blondie is more vibrant.
Sadly, I am in HAM's position as well.
-3:27
Posted by Anal_yst , Jun 03, 2008 4:46PM
@ FUNdamental
Dude, you have no idea!
There aren't even any "work hot" types here, well, maybe 2 or 3 but thats really pushing the definition of an already sad term...
Posted by big r , Jun 03, 2008 4:49PM
its prob easier to find those who dont have an ugly personnel view in their office.
who, besides carney, has something to share?
Posted by blndebnker , Jun 03, 2008 4:53PM
@4:32 - No offense taken. You would be grossly incorrect but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Again thank you 3:27. Good to see you have my back. And though Girl's suggestion is probably the best way to answer the question, I'm going to pass.
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 4:53PM
"its prob easier to find those who dont have an ugly personnel view in their office."
in english, please.
Posted by FUNdamental , Jun 03, 2008 5:00PM
@anal_yst - ahh yes, what we've come to term "cnbc hot" in these parts
Posted by guest , Jun 03, 2008 6:35PM
Here's a question - why is it guys will talk about how great it was last night when they got laid, with details.
Girls on the other hand (myself included) even if we go 5 or 6 mind blowing orgasms generally like to keep that stuff private. Except maybe when talking to our best girlfriends. But even then, I tend not to share.
I'm certainly not going to share about my mind blowing night with a bunch of semi-strangers on a Financial Gossip blog-- but you guys will tell/or boast, won't ya?
And then the guys think because we don't talk about it we never had it.
Wall St Chick
Posted by guest , Jun 04, 2008 4:33AM
6.35 - go back to watching Sex and The City with a massive tub of Ben & Jerry's.
And 12.57, it's Liverpool *Street* station. Attention to detail's so important when trying not to end up 200 miles from where you wanted to be.
Posted by guest , Jun 04, 2008 2:05PM
@6:35 Why is it girls talk about shoes, clothes, shopping and the latest sales? Guys don't do that, much less go into details. We've now established guys and girls are different (shocker). You have things you like to talk about and we have things we like to talk about; that's just how it is, deal with it.
Posted by guest , Jun 05, 2008 8:38AM
@2:05 - actually we don't talk about shoes, clothes, shopping and sales. We talk about politics. and work gossip (big big topic) and actually, with those women I work with, we talk about work plus theater and movies and books....real estate (NYC apartments) and renter's insurance and sports (at least the sport we are all into, which is sailing). The one thing we don't seem to talk about is sex. I'm thinking over my conversations of the last 24 hours with women friends/co-workers.
We don't say "oh, that guy has a great ass". Just doesn't come up. Maybe because most of you don't.
Posted by guest , Jun 05, 2008 4:14PM
@8:38 doesn't talk about sex because she is not getty any. Unless you count the fridge...